A little late on the update, but it's been a busy week preparing for the 1st annual School Yard Sale/Pancake Breakfast fundraiser...

Also been a busy week of potty training. I had to launder little undies this morning, because all 9 were used up in 3 days. So, right now there is a colorful, fluttering display on the clothesline. Quite darling, I must say! But not so darling when they get thrown in the washbasket one right after the other... Maybe I'm tackling this too soon?? But I'm on my "nesting instinct" rampage so - watch out, potty-trainable child!

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We spent Easter Sunday lunch with Ben's family  and Daniel & Anita - a lovely day, a  yummy picnicky-type lunch of grilled burgers with all the trimmings, baked beans, potato salad, and fresh strawberry pie for dessert!

Before lunch I asked Ben's sister, Laurie, to take a few pictures of our little family. It seems that I am the one behind the camera 99% of the time, and Ben and I rarely get pictures taken *together*! Even the whole weekend we were in Charleston a few weeks ago, we had not one family picture! So Laurie kindly obliged and did a lovely lovely job!

Some of these are very similar but I couldn't decide between them, so hence the many picture post! [p.niss - don't say you weren't warned. )]

Our little Easter family... Zoe' was much too excited and distracted with her little friend, Blake, being nearby that she didn't want to pose or look at the camera.

this pose got a little uncomfortable with the little baby under my ribs... !!

it was a windy day - as you can tell by my daughter's dandelion-seed hair!!

love this next picture of Zoe - complete childhood bliss!

another one of Zoe... the little tiara she's wearing is the same thing I wore on our wedding day - a string of rhinestones. she looked like a little fairy in her creamy dress with a sparkling headband!

my dear husband and me!

a few maternity shots. 36 weeks - already!! this pregnancy has gone by so so fast... there have been many times that I've had to re-count where I'm at with my weeks, and many times I've been 2-3 weeks ahead of where I thought I was!

With nearing the end of my pregnancy, I've been so blessed with some verses from Scripture...

One that I loved when I was pregnant with Zoe, that I've kept coming back to with this pregnancy, from Isaiah... "[The Lord] will gently lead those who are with young..." Such a precious, tender promise! In those days when I feel overwhelmed and exhausted, the Lord is a gentle God I can run to... This pregnancy has flown so fast, and I've been so busy with a precious, busybody toddler, that I do not feel emotionally prepared for this baby. I've been praying that God would do that, prepare my heart and our little family, for the arrival of a new member.

Some days I feel a bit of stress with the upcoming arrival of this baby. I know it will mean staying at home more days than I do now, not being able to go as much. But that doesn't look at big to me as does the question of how can I love another child like I do Zoe'? I have been blown away by the amount of love that I have known for Zoe', didn't know it was possible for a mother to love her child so fiercely! And now I wonder how I can love two children! I have heard from other parents that the love is there for the second child, and the third, and the fourth, and however many enter the family! And I believe that must be the case, but it just feels like my heart isn't big enough for this!

But I can rest in the promise that God will gently lead me. He who knows all things and is in complete control will also be with us through this transition...

The other is one I don't ever remember reading before, but that jumped out at me from Psalm 17:14b...

"You [God] fill their womb with treasure..."

Wow, I needed that beautiful reminder. In these last days, when I feel large and uncomfortable, having trouble sleeping well at night, I need to remember - I am carrying a treasure! One that is worth every bit of discomfort, every sleepless hour, or anything I feel like I'm just enduring right now...

I remember when I was pregnant with Zoe', a friend of my mother's told me when she was pregnant she always thought of herself as a treasure chest! That was such a beautiful mental picture for me, that despite my distended stomach and me wondering how much bigger can I get??? that there is a beautiful treasure and reward that is coming...

So, here's cheers to the treasure chest! And not only mine, but all you other expectant mothers out there!

and some of Zoe with the Baby Bump... I think she may be finally understanding, maybe just a little bit, that a baby is coming. She likes to lift up her shirt and point to her "bebe"! Even daddy has a "bebe" according to Zoe! Oh, and she loves to wear a bandaid across her belly button - just like mommy!

Giving some love to the Baby...

with my baby, who will not be my baby much longer!

And I just had to throw this one in here - Blake and Zoe' were having so much fun together that afternoon! This little wagon was such a great entertainer, they played together for the longest time! Even after they'd fall over the side, they'd climb right back in and keep playing!

a lovely weekend to you all!

-clarita

Today is the 2nd sunshiney day, after  3 rainy days in a row. We've had so much rain I was beginning to feel like I lived on an island. A very small island Entirely Surrounded By Water. Beach-front property. Lake-side retreat. Whatever you care to call it. I was told we received 5-6 inches of rain on Saturday, and it has rained a total of 15-20 inches in the past week, so my husband tells me. Reminds me of my childhood and growing up in rainy season in Belize. I love it! But today the sunshine is back and that is wonderful as well!

 Our yard literally had inches of water standing in it, and our poor chickens were perched on anything above ground they could find. Had we known everything, Ben would not have advertised the chickens in the paper this week - people are not going to find them very appealing when they're very drenched and have mud hanging onto their feet...

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Catching up on pictures from the past week...

I returned home from Florida on Monday evening. Was home for a busy 3 days, then went off for the weekend again - this time with Ben! We had thought we would do an early anniversary event [our anniversary is in June] due to the Baby arriving in May. This way I wouldn't be too large and uncomfortable getting out and about, rather than wait several more weeks or until Baby arrives. But because I only returned on Monday, Ben had not spent much time with or seen much of Zoe' and hated to leave her behind, so we ended up having a little family getaway rather than a "honeymoon!"  That was okay. We had a lovely time.

At least most of us did. We stayed in an absolutely gorgeous hotel,  with all hardwood floors. And since Zoe' doesn't walk anywhere, only runs, she had so many tumbles and head-crackers we were all getting rather concerned for her safety. Especially when she hit her head on the corner on a stool and got a huge egg on her forehead. Thankfully it didn't split open, something I was afraid of that would leave a permanent scar, but she reminded us of her "otchie!" many times over the next few days.

there were gorgeous old brick walls on two sides of the room

Ben and I had been in Charleston 2 years ago - and I was about 6 weeks from my due date with Zoe'! So this was kind of a daja vu, I again was 6 weeks from my due date. So in two year from now.... ))

We took the stroller instead of bikes this time, and walked around for hours. Zoe' did really well, I guess there was enough of action and people and horses with carriages that kept her enthralled... She loved this candy shop with oodles of barrels of candy and display of gelato...

we had to keep a close eye on Zoe' in this store... she would have pocketed/eaten half of the candy had we turned our backs for five minutes!

We both love looking at old houses and architecture. I am slightly amused by it, because Ben declares himself a country boy at heart, while I adore cities. Looking back at our first year of marriage, I am amazed that we lived right in the middle of a city because of Ben's love for the country and wide open spaces. But we both loved our year there and often talk of it with very fond memories, Ben included! One of our favorite "dates" to do there was walk around the old historic part of the city and just look and admire it all. A very cost efficient date, to be sure!

the old city food market, now a tourist trap attraction

just some of the old architecture and iron works around the city...

'south of broad' is a term used to say 'the really rich people in charleston!"

I forget what kind of trees these were -  sycamore maybe - but I loved the surprise of the rather contemporary look in the midst of the old city...

So going to Charleston was a great getaway for us. A few days before going we tried to decide if we really wanted to go, because sometimes it seems more relaxing to just stay at home than pack up and leave, especially with a baby. BUT we both knew that if we'd stay home we'd end up working on some project around the house or yard, and even though we'd be at home, we wouldn't just spend time together. Also, going away like that makes memories. We probably would not remember the weekend several years down the road had it just been "normal." And while I do like normal at times too, it was time for some memories to be made again!

this house and old oak tree look like they came from Gone With the Wind or something!

there were so many gorgeous old houses and gorgeous flower gardens and gorgeous place everywhere I could not take it all in!

We did a little impromptu photo shoot of Zoe' while we were there. I've been wanting to take her 18-month pictures for about 2 months, but at her age taking them by myself is next to impossible. Her daddy was a wonderful distraction to her and I'm sure we made an amusing scene - daddy jumping up and down and waving arms and yelling calling her name repeatedly as she raced from one side of the stairs to the other, mama frantically snapping pictures as fast as the camera would take them.

And sad to say, not as many turned out as I expected, even with the multitudes of pictures. I thanked Ben for helping me as we walked away, and he only raised his eyebrows and said, "Yeah...we only shot 500 pictures [definitely an exaggeration!]" as if to say, "I'm so glad I'm not involved in a photo shoot every day!!" I do get a little camera-happy, I'll admit. "But hey," I reminded him, "We save sooo much money by taking our own pictures!" That was a very happy thought for him indeed, and he seemed not to mind the photo shoot nearly as much as before.

we spent hours walking around, and zoe' did so well! when she got tired we just gave her her precious bunny and pacifier and she would go to sleep in her stroller!

and some special daddy/mommy/baby time...

have a lovely weekend!

A little over a month ago, my mother called me with a proposal. What if she would fly to Jacksonville, FL, and I would pick her up from there, then we would travel together to Sarasota for a week with my grandmother [her mother]? I thought it was a wonderful idea, since I had wanted to spend some time with Grandma but didn't know how I would be able to drive down by myself with a little toddler, Ben not being able to take off of work for an extended amount of time. So Ben and I talked about it, and decided that it was a great plan!

I left rather in a whirlwind, on a Monday morning after having a good weekend with overnight guests for several nights, drove to Jacksonville, and from there to our final destination.

This was such a special week for all of us - four women! I suppose Zoe' counts in the 'women' category! But especially special since I no longer live in the same area as my mother and grandmother. My mother is the firstborn of her family, I am the firstborn of mine, and Zoe' is the firstborn of our little family. Zoe' is also the first great-grandchild on my side of the family, and I was thrilled that Zoe' would be able to spend some time with both Nana and Grandma Susan.

At Millie's Cafe, one of the best breakfast joints in all of Florida - at least in my opinion!

I feel like I've gotten to know my grandmother as a friend only in the past few years. My grandfather and I were always so close, and then when he passed away several years ago, I realized I wanted to learn to know my grandmother in the same way as well. She is a dear, soft-spoken woman, although she can be a firecracker at times you least expect it! She has been amazed at how pregnant women are on the go so much these days. In her generation, expectant mothers spent 6 weeks at home before the due date, and 6 weeks at home afterwards! I remember when we were living in PA for a few months around the time of Zoe's birth, and I actually happened to be at my mother's house when my contractions began. Grandma walked in and I was talking to her when I suddenly had a strong contraction. I was bent over, trying to relax through it (and I was just about to head to the birthing center, for those who care!), and Grandma was in sheer amazement that I was *there* at my mom's house and *not* at the hospital! I explained to her that I *was* going to leave directly, with someone else driving me, but she just shook her head and walked off, declaring to her, "It's just a different generation!" And though I was in the middle of a contraction, I just burst out laughing at her chagrin!

I was excited to be spending time with both of them, and was just as excited that Zoe' was going to learn to know both of them much better. At her little age, she has remembered them for some time when I speak of them, but I think they were more faces to her than actual people. So a full week spent with them was wonderful! She fell in love with both of them, and would ask for Nana in a croaky morning voice as soon as she woke up! So precious!

It was a simply perfect week to be in Florida. The weather was warm, but not hot. So we spent a few days at the beach, enjoying the beauty of it all. After two days at the beach, Zoe' started asking to go! "Beach? Beach?" she'd say. She was a little daredevil, had no fear of the water or waves or anything. When she'd go out too far and the waves knocked her down, she'd come up sputtering but giggling, and go in again. I had to keep a close eye on her.

I found this absolutely darling little swimsuit at Target... Love how it looks like a little dress!

And crocs... I was never a big fan of crocs, but when springtime came this year, and Zoe' was getting her shoes so dirty outside, I was delighted when I found this little pair. They are simply wonderful outside! When they get dirty, all I have to do is hose them down and they're ready to go for the next time out. And since we've seen how great they are, both Ben and I now have a pair! But only for gardening. I still declare I will not be seen in town in crocs!

Bare feet bliss...

We spent several evenings at the park as well. Or perhaps I should say, my mom and Zoe' went to the park several evenings. Mom would tell me to stay and rest my pregnant body while she played with Zoe'. That won Zoe's heart like nothing else!

There are few things that make this little girl as happy as a playground! Giggles abound here!

The underducks are her favorite, and she giggles until she almost can't laugh anymore!

My mother, fearing for Zoe's safety, as she climbed to the top and slid down the curly slide on her own initiative, thinking it was hilarious that Nana was so concerned about her.

We ate most of our meals in Grandma's home, so simple but so delicious!

Salad with Italian Chicken Strips

Grandma's newly-remodeled living room, with a gorgeous oil painting by my uncle Freiman Stoltzfus!

Some parting shots... It really is hard to know how to pose gracefully when you're very pregnant...

The Four Generations, which my mom and grandmother proudly told anyone that cared to know!

Nana and Zoe'... Zoe' cried for literally about an hour after we said goodbye at the airport!

Dear Grandma Susan! A wonderful hostess for our week's stay!

Me and my darling girlie

And on the way back to Jacksonville, we stopped and got Zoe' what I think is her first ice cream cone! She's had ice cream before, but not a cone to eat as she pleases. What a happy little child she was!

Of course I had to stop and help her out a bit, which was really just an excuse to have some myself!

-CY

I told Ben the other day that I feel like a Prairie Woman. I feed the chickens, hang my laundry on the washline, have no internet access (he's been taking the computer every day to work on a real estate course), and then we run out of hot water and have only cold water for everything for several days. The only thing I need yet is a horse & cart and the long hoop skirts! Ha! It feels like quite the adventure around here the past few weeks! 'Adventure' meaning that I feel very domesticated - with no internet, I find I have all kinds of time for doing things around the house... Amazing all that I get done in a day! All kinds of projects, creative juices flowing, books are getting read, making a few cards...  Zoe' and I have been sitting at the piano and playing/singing sometimes too, something she started begging for. She'll sing with me sometimes, but mostly just try to imitate my playing. I can't help but giggle as she tries to do a run all over the keyboard (something I did just to see if she'd try it too!), and she intently watches my fingers and hands then tries to repeat the same motion. Just as sweet as can be!

Now that I'm on the computer again, Zoe' can hardly take it. Thinks she needs to be involved in this too, like she's been involved in many other of my projects. Calls, "Mama, Mama, Mama!!!" until I pay her some attention, then she'll happily jabber about the picture she's drawing, or the song she's playing on the piano. Most of her jabbers I can't understand, but she jabbers most of her waking hours. Makes me wonder what it'll be like when she's talking for real! Some of favorite things to say (that I can understand) are "Ready to go!!" when we're going away, "Where did it go?" when looking for something, "There it is!" when it's found. Sometimes our little family will be getting ready to go away, and Zoe' often ends up waiting on one or the other of us since one or the other of us will get her ready before ourselves (whew, sorry about the long sentance!). And she'll run to the door, expectantly waiting, but when we don't come, she'll run back to the bedroom, "Ready to go!!" she'll say, then run back out to the door. This process is repeated several times before we actually leave, and when we finally exit the house she'll be almost beside herself with the built-up excitement.

yes, we are picking daffodils in this part of the world!

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30 weeks. That marks the progress of this pregnancy so far. And I have to say - I have absolutely loved being pregnant this time around! For one thing, it's been such an easy pregnancy, no sickness. At all. Brushing teeth is the only thing that's made me throw up, and even that is getting better. With my first pregnancy, I was a little scared of all the changes that were happening inside and outside of me (!!) and just a little nervous about the whole thing. I would still say I enjoyed my pregnancy with her, but with this one I just love it! I'm excited about the Baby Bump, have actually enjoyed growing a little larger (I can still say that now because I'm not uncomfortable yet, and have been wearing maternity clothes for about a month now), and other than feeling lots of baby movement, I can hardly tell I'm pregnant because I feel so great! That is something I feel very blessed with, especially with chasing a toddler around all day...

I think this is the first pregnancy picture I've taken, simply because I didn't pop for so long. But now that I'm popping, I just keep on popping!

30 weeks

I was thinking last night about being a mommy, and what a wonderful experience it's been for me. I attribute a lot of this to the teaching that was given to me by my parents, how motherhood and having a family was seen as such a positive thing in our home. We were encouraged to live with all of our hearts wherever we are, and I did that as a single person as well. My single years were super wonderful! But as I've entered motherhood, I know a lot of the positive mindset I have toward this place in life is due to my parents, and the value of family that I have received came from the wonderful family life I experienced growing up. So, thank you, mom and dad!

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Coupons. I have  been on a coupon/sale binge ever since going on a cash budget for groceries this year. At first I was s.t.r.e.s.s.i.n.g. about it, didn't know where to find coupons locally or how to "use the coupon system" - all you couponers know what I'm talking about! After talking with a lady from church who is THE Coupon Queen, AND another friend down here that is as coupon happy as I am )  (right, Linda?!) I feel like I learned a lot and know more where to go with it. I am *definitely* still in the learning stages of it all, but now I am actually having FUN with it! You know you've got it bad when you come home from a Kmart double-coupon run and feel hyper about getting toilet paper!  On sale for 2-12 rolls packs of Scott Extra-Soft for $11. Oh, and don't forget I have a $1 off coupon per pack. Oh, and don't forget it's double coupon week at Kmart. So I got 2 packs (24 double rolls) of toilet paper for $7. Cheesy, I know, but I couldn't stop exclaiming to Ben about how happy I was with my deal.

And this little batch of goodies was also purchased with the double-coupon days at Kmart. I received $14 off the total purchase just using coupons. Too bad I couldn't combine this with a store sales - with double coupons that week they didn't have much on sale!

Now, some of you avid couponers, as well as you that live in areas with discount stores, may not think this is anything to talk about. BUT let me just say that this kind of stuff is HUGE stuff for us down here!! So Sunday Paper, eBay, etc. etc. etc. is getting quite a bit of attention from me the past little while. I'm also learning that other than the occasional double coupon at Kmart deal, it is not worth it for me to  grocery shop/use coupons here in town. It may be an hour drive to the next nearest grocery stores, but the prices are much more worth driving for, as well as the *real* grocery store coupons/sales/buy one get one kinds of deals. With Walmart as the main grocery store right here in town (one other small store with even higher prices), and not many store sales in groceries, they are able to raise their prices to a ridiculous  heights.  So bye-bye to Wally World, and so much for the Rollback they're bragging about. I have a bit of a grudge toward our local Walmart (especially after Zoe' was born and I tried to return some duplicate/extra baby  items that were given to me, and I was accused of stealing because I had no receipt - a whole story in itself), and knowing they raise their prices here just because they have no competition, and after seeing what kinds of deals I can get just by driving a little further, I have no desire to return to the Rollback store.

So, that's just a bit of the fun I've been having with coupons. Although I don't know how I'm going to continue this system when Baby Love #2 arrives... Driving an hour one way for groceries, plus the other stops at CVS or Walgreens... That feels overwhelming to me at this point. Right now Zoe' is doing great with being my assistant-errand-runner, but when I have two???? I'd love to hear from some of you other moms on that, how you do it, what you do...

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Be blessed this week by the One Who truly knows and loves you!

-CBY

Regardless of how desperately I have missed "real" winter this year, I have absolutely nothing to complain about when the days down here have been in the 80's. It is completely delightful!! Everything is still as brown as can be, so I try to overlook the lack of loveliness around me by remembering that come Springtime, it actually does become very beautiful here. And Springtime is just around the corner, for us Southern folks! These days now actually feel like early summer in the north.

Having a little toddler that begs to go outside each and every day, I am equally delighted when the weather permits her to go out and play - for hours, if I allow it. She feeds the dog [or so she thinks: dumps her food all over the garage floor], then goes and inspects the 100 remaining chickens [notice the numbers are slowly decreasing].  The past few days we've had a little adventure with the chickens. Nothing major to most of you, I'm sure, but when I'm the 28-week-pregnant woman racing around in the yard trying to catch 6 football-sized chickens running away from you, I consider it a rather large feat to get them all back in. Now when we feed them, we are ever so careful to c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y close all possible latches whereby the chickens could escape. We don't want all 100 running away from me, now do we?? No, indeed we do not. In that case, I'm sure the remaining number of chickens would decrease even more rapidly, as Large Pregnant Women are not very good Candidates for Catching Chickens.

Last Saturday Ben has a side job to do, and because it was his 3rd Saturday in a row that he was going to be gone, he asked me if I'd want to go along with him. My first reaction was that I'd love to go - if it would be only me. Taking an 18-month old along to a side construction job didn't sound like a very good idea though... Who knows what all she would get into? And how in the world would I keep her entertained the whole 4-5 hours?? But going along seemed to be better than staying at home alone, so we all piled in Ben's Blue Bulldog [what we affectionately call his early 90's Chevy truck] and away we went.

I grabbed my camera on the way out the door, and snapping pictures was what I ended up doing all afternoon. The lighting was too bright for the the color to look good, so I shot on monochrome. And what fun using the new camera lense I'm buying from Marylou!

For those of you who aren't family, this might be rather boring - mostly pictures of Zoe!

The dear older man for whom Ben was working... I tried so hard to get a secretive shot of him smoking his pipe, and this was the best I could do without him knowing it. I was snapping pictures of Zoe' all around him, so he didn't know I also wanted this one of him! I felt like I was back in time with him sitting there with his old pipe...

She found all kinds of things in his yard to drag around...

and found Daddy's tools most fascinating.

He was very concerned that we didn't get hungry or thirsty, even though we had packed a lunch of our own, and brought out ice-cold coca-cola and chocolates for a snack. Zoe' was thrilled!

He owns this adorable old, old tractor... wish I would have taken this in color so you can see the bright red...

and this old barn is his...

this large pond...

was right behind his house where Ben was working. All day I kept fearing that Zoe' would decide to run and jump into it, and almost drown. Thankfully she decided to do no such thing...

I had nothing planned for supper with being gone most of the day, so we whipped up some broiled sub sandwiches. And just for fun, using my new lense, seeing how I can focus on one tomato with the rest being blurry... Ooooo, that makes me hungry all over again...

Time for a little sunshine! Have a splendid weekend - each and every one!

[in bullet style because words aren't coming too freely these days]

Happiness is:

-my parents stopping by for the night "on their way" to Charleston. Such a lovely time with them!

-enjoying my new shelf [which I painted black, because Jana said to paint it black. And when sisters say, "Paint it black!" then there is no other way it looks right but to do as they say]

-my sisters and two friends stopping in for the night...and day... on their way to Florida

story time with Auntie Claudia... she's going to strangle me for putting this picture on here, but I love it! I don't know who is more engrossed in the book.

my most wonderful guests! we didn't want them to leave!

-walks on crisp days with a dear friend, and hearing our babies "chatter" together in the double stroller!

-finding that lasagna noodles fit in an Oval 5 Tupperware container

-being pregnant with Little Treasure #2

-snuggling on the couch with Husband after Baby is in bed at night

-being pregnant at the same time as some dear friends of mine!! makes it ever so much more fun!

-hearing my little daughter giggle. and she can giggle!

we don't walk anywhere. we RUN. and therefore, Pregnant Mommy sprints more than she cares to to Rescue Baby From Danger.

-sleeping all night, now that Zoe' has all 4 molars. we were up many times a night through that teething process...

-friends that start dating.... I just love it!

-phone calls and pictures from the Land of Snow

-hosting company and doing things to make their time special

-buying a slightly-used camera lense from Marylou!

-a cousin that just had a baby! my first cousin ever to have a child... I'm so excited.

-completing housecleaning in the month of January (my goal)

-being all caught up in Zoe's scrapbook album (also a January goal). I hadn't worked on it for about a year, so had to go from when she was 4 months old to 18 months old. Rather overwhelming, but a wonderful feeling of accomplishment!

-my planner. I absolutely love it. The second year in a row I bought the same one.

It's an X-large planner from Moleskin. Weekly spread on one side, notepad-style on the other. Perfect for all my lists [I'm a total list freak! and I love it that I don't have to write all my lists on a seperate paper, only to lose it halfway through the week - that's what happened to me before I got this planner, and then I'd be lost. My planner is my brain: I write it there and erase it from my mind], my menu for the week, for my days to be mapped out. Also has lined pages in the back for notes, and a pocket to hold my extras [note cards, church phone numbers, stuff I like to carry with me]. Perfect size to fit in my purse, nice and slim. There. You convinced I like it??

-hot coffee on a cold morning. Today I just wanted to crawl inside my mug to warm up...

-reading other people's blogs. Being blown away with how creative/inspiring/talented they are. Whether it's in writing, domestic things, their heart for their families/other people...

-quiet times with God before Zoe' wakes up.

Challenges are...

-grocery shopping with $___ cash per week, and wondering if our set amount is possible with no bulk or discount stores for hours around.

-doing a cash-only budget for particular categories

-finding coupons for situations such as above

-being happy with living in a Land Where There Is Never A Flurry [of Snow]

-being content with One Season [Summer], plus January and February

-sleeping in a 63* house at night and living in a 67* house during the day [part of the plan to converse on electricity. If it doesn't work, then by George, we're turning the heat up]

-drying most of the laundry on racks outside vs. using the dryer [also part of the plan to save on the electric bill - learned from Linda! ]

-learning what evening/weekend activities to cut out when Husband works from 6am-7pm each weekday, plus some Saturday side jobs. We're so grateful he has work, but wondering how to stay connected??

enjoying our days outside... the one nice thing about not living in a cold climate... Love that little drop of drool hanging off her chin!

Oh, and just as a side note: all 102 chicks are doing just great.

There is nothing like waking up in the morning to your house smelling like a chicken farm, and having 104 chicks running around the house. Okay, just kidding about the running around part But totally serious about the smelling part. And the 104-chick part. And the in-the-house part.

It all started one day last week...

Ben had returned home after a day at work, and after a few minutes, came to me and said there is something he needed to tell me. I could tell by his expression it wasn't anything too ghastly, but we usually keep each other up to date on things, so naturally my curiosity was aroused.

"Uhh, well, *sheepish grin* I just ordered us a hundred chickens."

My jaw couldn't have sunk any lower to the ground, and I staggered against the kitchen counter. In the deep recesses of my memory, I do recall us having mentioned - just mentioned - that one day it might be nice to have a few laying hens. Maybe 4-5. "A hundred what?"  I stammered weakly, hoping desperately this was all a joke. He likes to tell me things that shock me out of my mind, only to tell me he was just kidding. He seems to enjoy freaking me out like that. And for a purchase of something this big, we normally consult each other first. He's not the spur-of-the-moment buyer. At least, not normally.

"Uhhh, yeah. A hundred chickens." He was stuttering around a  bit, but his grin was getting wider. "Now that you mention it, a hundred does sound like a lot." He started chuckling.

I was completely speechless, staring wide-eyed at my grinning husband, but my mind was going crazy. What in the world are we ever going to do with a hundred chickens?!  We don't even have a place to keep any chickens! And doing simply math, 100 chickens, laying approximately 100 eggs a day, give or take, would give us about 700 eggs a week. How many eggs does this man think we eat???

"Oh, they're probably not all hens." he added.

Oh, perfect. That's even better. I can just see it now. 25 roosters perched on the rooftop, crowing for all the neighborhood to hear at 4am every morning. Plus the other 75 hens flapping all around the yard, in the trees, on the vehicles, on the house roof,  on the back porch. Why, we probably couldn't even walk outside the door without stepping into doo-doo everywhere, with that many fowl around.

I finally managed to ask what in the world he was thinking, getting that many chickens. He kept grinning, seemingly enjoying this moment of complete shock for his wife, and mentioned that perhaps he should have told me first. I did tell him that would have been nice, because there was no way I would have let him get that many if he asked, but it was probably good he just went ahead and did it if he wanted them that badly.

As I began to try to wrap my mind around the idea of us living in the very midst of a chicken farm, he told me that he actually wanted to raise them for a few months, then sell them in the spring as more mature roosters/hens, and that we would probably end up keeping only a dozen or so. Kind of like an investment, he said.

Gracious. That's still a bit overdone in my opinion. A hundred chickens!

They arrived yesterday. Little newly-hatched chicks. All 104 of them. They are rather cute, I have to admit. Zoe' is tickled out of her mind, and would hardly eat a bite of supper last night out of excitement. I'm afraid she'll bring about the death of half of them.

And since it was so cold last night, below freezing, we [yes, yes, me too] felt sorry for them outside and allowed them to sleep  peep inside all night. Good thing we had a raging fan making all sorts of noise in our bedrooms, otherwise I don't know how we would have slept a wink. And waking up to a house smelling like chickens isn't exactly the most exciting way for a pregnant woman to start her day.

But my husband is just darling with them. He feeds them diligently, waters them, makes sure everything is okay. This mornine he found one that didn't make it, and another one that somehow got crushed in the mix. For the surviving one, he made a rice pack and heated it up, then stuck that and the chick in a beanie hat, trying to revive it. And just now I got a text from him, saying, "If the chick gets up, could you give it water in a jar lid? Thanks." I laughed out loud, Sure, Babe, anything you want... thinking the whole chicken epidsode is so funny and so ridiculous at the same time. Thankfully it will just be a few months that we'll have this many chickens around here...

The chick itself, affectionately named "Charlie" by my loving husband. He thought we needed to name him after his near-death experience. I just hope he's not planning on continuing with the naming venture. It's hard enough for me to name a baby, let alone 103 chickens. [Notice the Georgia Bulldogs hat and all. I'm sure all you Georgia fans would say that's the reason for the rapid recovery].

But I'm racking my brain, trying to remember if there's anything else he's mentioned in the past that I should be prepared for. You know, in case he gets another brain-storm. And what do you know, but I honestly remember he said it would be nice to have a few goats around here, just to eat out the scruffy parts of the woods around the house...

~CB

It's high time for me to catch up with the internet world... I know I always harp on us still having dial-up, but I tell you, when it's me that has it, it definitely makes a difference in how often I frequent going online. But after being away from it the past few weeks, I've been feeling a little lonely for my xanga friends, and decided that today is the day of catching up. Whether it takes most of the day or not. There. Now *that* is dedication. So some of you that haven't heard from me in weeks shall hear from me today.

I'm sipping on a cup of chocolate milk with a generous dallop of whipped cream on top (for the benefit of the baby, of course), and am feeling very virtuous because my soup supper is already in the crock pot. I'm not a crock-pot person at all, I've always wished to be but generally never think of it until it's too late and I have to do a speed bake in the oven. So that explains why I feel very virtuous at this point... Just had to share that.

Ahhhh, the lovely relaxing days of winter... If, that is, you can call 80 degree days "winter."  Today it feels cold outside, it's probably 50-60 degrees. Then I talk to my family up north and I hear their temperature is staying in the teens today. I think I'm acclimating to the south more than I realize, thinking 50 degrees is cold!

So Zoe' and I have been spending lots of time outside. We have a little dog that showed up on our doorstep this summer, and now Zoe' has taken it upon herself to "feed" the dog every day. By this I mean that she empties the entire contents of the dog food all over the garage floor every day, watching with the greatest delight as Molly actually eats it too. I had a grouchy little girl on my hands yesterday when it was raining most of the day and I didn't think it was a good idea for her to go out into the rain, and she needed to stay inside instead... She acted like that was the very end of the world itself.

And yes, I do find her with the strangest sort of, well, makeup??

She must have gotten into dirt somewhere, and she often sees me put on my makeup in the morning, and I guess she decided she was going to apply some as well???

Probably only in the South, in January, will you find lovely blossoming bushes such as these. I have no idea what their name is, and the bush itself is quite ugly most of the year, but come January and February, and these little flowers bloom their hearts out. I put away my Christmas decor last week (sniff), and it made the transition back into "normal" a little easier to put these lovely pink flowers all around my house... This is only one such bouquet.

And my sister-in-law, Sonya, informed me that January is the National Organizing Month. I'm not sure if that inspired me, or the fact that I finally have some energy again after feeling so lifeless for the first few months of this pregnancy. Whatever the reason, I decided that this is the month to houseclean. Now, before anyone thinks it's too early in the year, etc. etc. etc. let me just say that I have never housecleaned my house before. We moved from our first house a year after we first lived there, so that was housecleaned in order to get ready for the new people, I guess. But we've lived in this house 2.5 years, and although I think it's safe to say that every area has been cleaned at some point in our living here, it hasn't all been done at one time. I try to keep it in a pretty good state of cleanliness, but housecleaning never struck me as something necessary.

Why it struck me now, I have no idea. I did notice that some of the corners were getting a little grungy looking, and I knew if I wait too many more months I'll either be too big and pregnant, or I'll have a newborn baby, and anyone who's been there before knows only minimal cleaning gets done at that point. So, hence the housecleaning. And I'm enjoying it, because the urge may not hit me again until we've been married another 3.5 years.

It's been quite a challenge with a 17-month old following me around everywhere. She wants to help so badly, but doesn't realize that pulling everything out of drawers and cupboards that have already been cleaned out doesn't help mommy so very well...

And along with housecleaning, we've been working on some other projects. Somehow January seems to be the month to do it. I think it was last January that I did a post on a bunch of projects too!

So I have to show off my husband's artistic talent with wood... For Christmas, we decided we would give each other very practical, not-spend-much-money gifts. I had told him I would love for him to make a few things for me: a shelf for the closet to put my shoes on, just to keep everything more organized... He's a master at wood-working, I tell you!

.... and a crown molding shelf for our living room. I've had the same picture hanging for 3.5 years, and I was very ready for a change. So this is the welcome change that has come of it:

The biggest picture is a canvas wrap I got made of Zoe's one year picture... The next biggest one is a P. Graham Dunn picture that was given to me for my birthday by my sister in laws!! I love it!! I'm still playing with the arrangement of picture placing, and had thought about doing everything in black and white prints, but I loved the color on Zoe's picture so much I wasn't willing to turn that into black and white. I'm hoping it will all fit together okay... I feel like I need my sisters here to help me with this. Shelf - black or white? Distressed or not?

And this is another project I'm so excited about. Up until this point I've just used a [free] changing table in Zoe's room to hold all of her clothes, except her hanging dresses.

It worked okay for a while, but I just didn't have enough of space, especially thinking of another baby using this same space in a few months!

Soon after we moved here I noticed an old grunchy dresser in a rickety shed on our rental property. I asked our landlord about it, and he said it must have belonged to previous tenants, because it wasn't theirs. We could dispose of it as we liked, he said. I never had enough nerve to go all the way back in that creepy shed to see exactly what it was or if it would even be worth re-doing - we've had rats and oppossoms and all sorts of critters come out of there. So one Saturday when Ben was home, I asked if he would pleeeeaaaaaasse be brave for me and go back in that creepy shed.

He did, and about a week and lots of sanding and painting and antique-glazing and spray-painting-the-pulls later, this lovely piece of furniture graces the nursery, along with my $3-a-piece frames from Walmart.

Not only was this FREE, and we were able to use left-over paint from the high chair and dinette set from a year ago, but it's a beautiful old piece, solid wood, with great woodwork detail...

I have so much more space to store Zoe's clothes, and it looks like there is enough room to keep new Baby Love's clothes in there as well. I'm thrilled!

And now - I'm off to catch up with the rest of you! And do some scrapbooking too, if time allows for that...

May each one of you experience the Rest of the Lord today!

[This CD I have listed is one of the best I have heard in a long long time!! It's definitely worth your time and money to get it!]

All is quiet tonight... The whirlwind that we've been living in the past few weeks has ended. At least for a few days. Or is it minutes?? I have so been enjoying the several days at home. They are  busy days at home, but at least I'm able to be at home!

A run-down of the past 1.5 months:

~ 3 - 12 hour one way road trips (24 hours round trip each) in the month of November. Need I say that with work being slow and unexpected trips, our budget is suffering??

~ being able to see my sister, Claudia, star as Anne in Anne of Green Gables!! She was simply fabulous. I couldn't have been more proud!!

(I was there all three nights, and I sat so enraptured the entire time that  this is the only picture I have of Anne and Gilbert. It was a posed picture after the show...)

~ realizing (not very happily) that because Ben is on the School Board, I am on the School Board Ladies Food Committee by default - thus resulting in 4 days in one week involving schoolfood/decor one way or another. And I thought I was going to have a slow week...

~ being youth leaders, and planning a Progressive Christmas Banquet for the youth

~ having a Cookie Baking Day with Linda - just for fun!

In Linda's new kitchen! She made all the adorable cute cookies you'll see below, while I just made some of the usual!

~ seeing friends in Ohio I hardly ever get to see while Ben went deer hunting: Dora, Janelle, Shirleen, Carmen, Bethany... 'Twas ever so lovely. Sadly, I don't have pictures of everyone in that grand week... Oh, and there was snow!

The four of us were at Bible School together, and at least a few of us have gotten together every year since! I love these dear ladies...

and we went to this amazing coffee shop in Sugarcreek...





and just to show that we saw snow! [man, I really sound like we never get out]


~ returning to the south, and to 80 degree weather. I adore cold winters with snow that comes in blizzards, so it's quite an effort for me not to be grouchy with this summer-like weather.

~ decorating for Christmas. buying a Christmas tree only to cut it to pieces to use for wreaths and greenery around the house. at least it *smells* like Christmas inside even if it's 80 degrees outside. I decorated with a little more rustic touch this year instead of the more traditional that I usually do...

just a few pictures to give you a glimpse of our home...

the desk, which sits off to the side of the living room.

the rest of the living room

the nativity set we found last year after Christmas

the sled with some of the old trunks I seem to collect

and mistletoe with boxwood, of course!

on the piano, looking into the dining room

in the kitchen

in the dining room

~ running after my 16-month old daughter, whose delight these days is throwing anything and everything in either the trash can or the toilet. Shoes, her bunny blanket, my prized vintage Fisher Price toys... I literally have to dig through the trash can by hand before I throw it into the dumpster! And many a treasure I have rescued doing so.  It's well worth the effort, I'd say.  Oh, and she likes to spill bright red candle wax on brand new carpet [not my own; my friend's brand new house!!] and her white linen dress... I have literally been carrying a "husich lefle" [spanking tool, for those who need  German interpretation!] around with me the past week because she has been so naughty! Today was the first day where only two spankings were needed, and I felt like I was on vacation!

~receiving countless joys from the same 16-month old daughter, who is so affectionate and comes up to me many times a day just to give me "tiiiiiiigggght hugs." She started saying "I love you" as she squeezes too... We've started getting the giggles together before bedtime, often while I'm rocking her and singing to her, and sometimes we can't stop because we just get each other giggling so hard! I can't help but be in love with her!

[just had to grab this picture - Zoe' heard Daddy talking on the phone, so she had to find a phone and go join him!]

~ reaching 20 weeks with this pregnancy, and I'm so excited because I finally have a Baby Bump! I haven't been sick one day this pregnancy, for which I am so so thankful. I've heard so many horror stories of other pregnant women... The only time I get queasy is when I brush my teeth, and I am an avid tooth-brusher. But thankfully, if I need to, well, throw up, at least I'm right there by the sink and don't have to make a run for it. And I come away with no one knowing that is the worst part of my day. I have been incredibly fatigued this pregnancy though... Sometimes I wish I would be sick so I'd have an excuse to sleep all day and night, like I want to! Or have an excuse to cut back on some of the activities... I've tried resting during the day, but the one day I attempted lying on the couch with my eyes closed, Zoe' came up and bonked me on the head sooo hard with the cordless home phone that I couldn't do anything but lay there and cry.  I had no idea a one year old could hit that hard. And that was the end of resting on the couch while she is awake.

~ and now, we're looking forward to another long road trip to spend [a white??] Christmas with my family!

I'm so thankful this year for a God who became as one of us, to bring compassion, healing, and forgiveness to my life... He is a God not only who knows our joys, but who also carries our burdens and  cares for us so deeply! What a Precious Lord we have!

Merry Christmas to one and all!